Linda Moore TechNet democratic operative

It has been a turbulent time of late for the tech industry association world. There had been serious talk of TechNet and another tech industry group, ITI, merging. While TechNet CEOs voted to move forward with the consolidation, ITI brought the process to a halt in mid-2012 after some of its members opposed the merger. More recently, TechAmerica and ITI have been in a behind-the-scenes battle that went public late last year when TechAmerica sued its rival, arguing that lobbyists hired away by ITI accessed and used their former employer’s confidential documents.

Moore said she isn’t thinking about the TechNet’s past or the turmoil in the association world.

Text Size

-

+

reset

“It’s only natural that there are going to be several associations, institutions that represent it, but I think that all of us can work together to play to our strengths and move the ball forward for the industry and that’s what really matters,” she said. “I’m really excited about TechNet’s future. I’m excited about what we’re going to do to advance the ball for the agenda that we all care about and that’s what I’m focused on.”

Moore’s hire is not the only staff changes. The group also is bringing on Andrea Deveau as executive director of California. She most recently served as senior director of policy innovation and market development at Direct Energy. She will supplement John Doherty in California, who came on board in September to run the association’s state-level lobbying and as general counsel.

At the same time, TechNet’s vice president of government relations Dan Turrentine is exiting to become Rep. Jared Polis’ (D-Colo.) chief of staff.

Moore said that she plans to assess the association before making any decisions about bringing on additional talent.

In the meantime, she said the group will continue to focus on federal and state lobbying on issues like patent reform, immigration reform, privacy and cybersecurity. The group spent $350,000 on lobbying in 2013 and has Bay Bridge Strategies and Prime Policy Group on retainer, according to Senate lobbying disclosure filings.

She also wants to increase the trade group’s communications operation.

“In my mind communications is critical for advocacy at any level today,” Moore said of the need to play a more visible role in the press and the public.

While the group had originally been one of the first associations to tap into Silicon Valley’s fundraising power in recent years, it has struggled to keep pace as more trade associations and companies have focused more on raising money in the region. During the 2012 cycle, TechNet brought in just $54,000 in receipts — much less than in its early years. The group’s political action committee peaked during the 2000 cycle when it brought in nearly $190,000.

Moore said that the “political support” is a very important aspect of the trade association’s portfolio, in particular bringing lawmakers out to California to their member companies.

“The political support is a very important part of it, no doubt, but just as important as that are the visits by elected leaders at the federal level and the state level out to Silicon Valley to actually see it, experience it, visit the companies,” Moore said, noting the roughly 100 visits last year organized by TechNet to bring lawmakers to California.